Gullas explains his “yes” vote declaring speakership vacant

Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas recently clarified that he was not in favor of declaring all seats in the House vacant, as moved by the former speaker, Jose de Venecia Jr.

In a press conference at his office at the University of the Visayas, Gullas said he was among the 174 congressmen who voted for the declaration of the Speaker of the House vacant, as was originally moved by Palawan Rep. Kahlil Abrahan Mitra.

The motion of JDV and that of Mitra were “separate” but the House only carried the Mitra motion, which was only “to declare the seat of the speaker vacant.”

After Mitra’s motion was raised, JDV moved instead for the declaration of all seats in the House vacant, and this motion was an act of amending the first motion, said Gullas.

The House however did not take up JDV’s motion but such move from JDV meant that he approved the Mitra motion, and this paved the way for JDV’s ouster and replacement by Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, Gullas explained.

Gullas said that the change in leadership in Congress while it is in session is not unprecedented.  It happened also in the 7th  Congress 38 years ago, when seven neophyte congressmen, he and JDV included, moved to oust the then speaker, Jose Laurel from his post.

“It is not uncommon to have changes in the leadership,” Gullas said citing another instance in the 11th Congress when it saw three successive changes in the speakership: Manny Villar, Arnulfo Fuentebella, and Sonny Belmonte.

In explaining his “yes” vote for the new speaker, Gullas said he did it because of “what transpired tonight...and 38 years ago.”  — Liv G. Campo/RAE